A Look at the May 2026 Winner for the Outstanding Community Service Award
Morgan Newsom, RN, Nurse Educator, Arkansas Center for Women and Infants’ Health, UAMS East
(summary of her nomination) Morgan has transformed access to maternal healthcare in East Arkansas through her work with the MOTHER initiative, providing essential services in communities where care is often unavailable. Serving as both nurse educator and case manager across three counties, she ensures that women and infants receive critical prenatal, postpartum, and coordinated care. Morgan goes above and beyond by conducting home visits, coordinating transportation, and addressing complex barriers that would otherwise prevent patients from receiving care. Her advocacy has helped prevent delays, supported high-risk pregnancies, and ensured continuity of care for vulnerable families. Through compassion, persistence, and innovation, Morgan has made a profound and lasting impact on the health of her community.
Morgan’s work represents the very essence of community service—meeting people where they are and ensuring no one is left without care. She has taken on an extraordinary scope of responsibility, delivering care across multiple counties while addressing the complex barriers faced by rural populations. Her relentless advocacy ensures that patients receive not only medical care, but also the support and resources needed to navigate challenging circumstances. From coordinating critical transportation to personally ensuring families have essential supplies, her actions reflect a deep and unwavering commitment to those she serves. Morgan’s compassion, determination, and impact have changed lives and strengthened entire communities.
A look back at past winner
The Outstanding Community Service Award recognizes the contributions of an individual nurse, both professionally and/or voluntarily, for continuous service activities performed based on the needs of the community. Services may be community based, outreach or on-campus activities, including department and/or unit that impact a healthcare outcome.
Nomination Requirements
- Nominee must be a licensed nurse (APN/RN/LPN).
- The project or contribution must have occurred within the past 12 months.
Nomination Process
- Complete online application below in its entirety relating to the nurse you are nominating. If you have any supportive information in the area provided in the nomination form, please attach it. NOTE: Nominations will not be accepted after the closing date.
- The nominator may request, from the nominee, evidence of the community service project to submit along with the application to validate impact regarding healthcare outcome. This could include photos, flyers, and/or newspaper entries the nominee may already have available.
Selection Process
- Nominations, that meet criteria, will be blinded and reviewed by the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee will select winners based only on the information provided in the nomination and supportive information.
- Nominees who meet the criteria, as well as the selected winner, will be celebrated during annual Professional Nursing Awards ceremony.
Click here to view past nomination example.